St Xavier’s department of mass media

By Sakshi Chadha
“We never dreamt of it, we worked for it”, says the department of mass communication and videography, St Xavier’s College, which completes ten years. St Xavier’s College was the first college in Goa to offer an undergraduate programme in mass communication and videography.
There is always a gap between academics and industry, which this course is working towards reducing by hosting events and making internships compulsory. Second year students organise ‘IRIS’, a students’ film festival, every year. The event was introduced in 2009, and is a platform to showcase imagination and skills.
Apart from having a well-qualified faculty, the department also invites prominent media personalities to conduct guest lectures and exposes students to real life scenarios, new perspectives and trends.
When asked what makes this department unique, head of the department Vailarose Fernandes, says, “I think we reflect the zest and vibrancy of our campus. From conducting classes in the open air sometimes, to inducing positive peer group reviews, conducting intercollegiate events like film festivals and competitions to having a large number of students participating in national and state level competitions, we have been all-rounders, very much true to our Xavierite spirit. Our students are the most fun loving, energetic, busiest and easiest to spot on campus.” The department not only focuses on the academics but also engages in other activities, one such being the Publishing Next conference, an annual event that has students video documenting and conducting interviews for the conference. Speaking about future plans Vailarose says, “We have to move to the next level and provide a post graduate programme for our students here in Goa. Or else we find nearly 40 per cent of those students who opt for higher studies in media moving out, whereas if we try, we can provide the same here with a Goan perspective.”
(The writer is a student of SY BA Journalism, St Xavier’s College)

Students Say:
I feel good that for once I actually enjoyed studying and working since it is something that I like. The teachers were exceptionally helpful.”
– Yashodhara Roy, former student (Batch 2011-13)

The department has been working really hard to give the students the best of communication studies. Our faculty gives us the freedom and platform to express our ideas.”
– Alexia Fernandes, SYBA

In the two years at Xavier’s, I have learnt so much about myself and had so many opportunities to grow as a person. This course has given me all that I was looking forward to and perhaps more.”
– Cara Shrivastava, SYBA

This course not only gives talented students a platform but also helps students who are not very confident about themselves a chance to grow, and that is what I think makes our department unique.”
– Ankitha Joseph, SYBA

The notion I had before joining the course changed after the first week of college. This course gave me opportunities beyond my expectations. I got my first article published and started working on a film in my first semester itself. Not many colleges allow raw minds like us to represent themselves.”
– Shailesh Tanpure, FYBA
Milestones
• The Mass Communication and Videography department is the first media department in Goa.
• An undergraduate programme well housed with the latest TV production requirements of TV Studio (established in 2009) and editing lab and recording studio (established in 2007) for the students.
• Winners of several media fests – PRIMETIME (2011) – a state level media fest organised by Don Bosco College, MEDIA MANTHAN (2013 and 2014) – a national level media fest organised by St Aloysius College, Mangalore.
• Students short films and documentaries have won accolades in several national and state level competitions like Chota Cinema, COOJ suicide prevention film competition and Shooting Stars.
• 100 per cent results over the last seven years and record of four student rankers in the last few years